Nadi goalkeeper Joela Biuvanua won the Golden Glove award for his exceptional play during the 2024 Rooster Chicken/Scoops Ice-Cream Battle of the Giants in Suva.
At just 26 years old, Biuvanua, who is also a Police officer, played a crucial role in leading the Jetsetters to the tournament final. This marked his first appearance for the team after transferring from Lautoka during the mid-season window.
Throughout the tournament, he only allowed three goals, all of which came from matches against Lautoka—one in the group stages and two in the final.
Coach Raj Dayal has praised Biuvanua’s performance, asserting that he deserves a spot on the national team. He stated, “He was just fantastic in this tournament. He put his body on the line for the team on many occasions throughout the BOG. He is by far the best goalkeeper in the country at the moment and should make the national team.”
Dayal acknowledged the previous challenges in their goalkeeping but emphasized that since Biuvanua’s arrival, the team’s performance has improved significantly, culminating in their reach to the BOG final.
He also expressed appreciation for his team’s efforts and mentioned their intention to perform well in the remaining DPL matches and the upcoming Inter District Championship in Lautoka.